Tyson Fury would be willing to hold on to his title for 12 months despite declaring he has retired from boxing.
The 'Gypsy King' confirmed his plans to hang up his gloves after successfully defending his WBC belt against Dillian Whyte back in April. Nonetheless, the 33-year-old hinted he would fight again in a message on Tuesday and he could face the winner of Anthony Joshua 's rematch with Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed titles.
Fury would not be required to make any more mandatory defences of his belt to remain champion for the next 12 months. And the current champion believes he has worked hard to defend his title so will keep it for as long as necessary. "I’m still adamant that I’m 100 per cent retired from professional boxing," Fury told Jim White and Simon Jordan on talkSPORT. "I don’t know why everybody keeps saying I’m coming back.
"I’m not going to give it [the WBC heavyweight title] up because, hold on a minute, I’ve got 12 months. I’ve done two [mandatory fights] back-to-back [against Deontay Wilder and Whyte]. I haven’t got anybody [to fight]. I’m just keeping it as long as possible. I’ve already outdone Wladimir Klitschko as the third-longest reigning lineal champion in boxing history. I’ll keep that in my back pocket for as long as I want.
"I have got 12 months and I’m keeping hold of my belt that I work hard, for as long as I can. I’m not holding this division up because I own it. This is my division; I own this division. I’m not playing. I’m holding onto the WBC belt. I’m holding that Ring Magazine [belt]. I’m holding that lineal championship at least for another year.”
Fury has been given no deadline by the WBC to decide whether to relinquish his title after completing his obligations. Several other challengers have emerged for the belt, with sparring partner Joseph Parker and former trilogy rival Deontay Wilder keen to establish their claims to a title shot.
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The 33-year-old will likely wait for the outcome of Joshua's rematch with Usyk before deciding if he wants to put it at stake in a fight for all the marbles. However, despite previously suggesting he would face the winner, Fury has since claimed he will only return in an undisputed title shot if a £500million offer is made.
"Even that £200million report today, that didn’t even tempt me," Fury continued. "That would be like half of what I would want to come out of retirement. “I’d probably want half a billion to come out of retirement. I’m telling you the truth, if you want me out of retirement it’s going to cost half a billion.
"AJ’s bubble’s been burst, he’s been beat twice. He isn't a virgin anymore, he’s been battered from pillar to post by a fat man on three weeks’ notice and by a middleweight. If it’s half a billion, then I won’t say no, will I? I can solve all the problems, the embarrassment and all that stuff that’s going to happen."
